Best Performance By An Actress In A Leading Role

The nominees are:

- Penélope Cruz in “Volver” (Sony Pictures Classics)
- Judi Dench in “Notes on a Scandal” (Fox Searchlight)
- Helen Mirren in “The Queen” (Miramax, Pathé and Granada)
- Meryl Streep in “The Devil Wears Prada” (20th Century Fox)
- Kate Winslet in “Little Children” (New Line)

(Wow! I've actually seen all of these except for "Little Children"!)

And the Oscar goes to ... Helen Mirren!

This one was really a toss-up. Cruz, Dench, and Mirren were all amazing. In my opinion, "The Queen" was the strongest move of "Volver," "Notes on a Scandal," and "The Queen," and since Mirren's performance was the foundation of that movie's success, I'm giving the nod to her.